Workers' Compensation Archives

Various occupations expose California workers to face and eye hazards, and it is the responsibility of their employers to ensure they have appropriate personal protection equipment. However, not all employers prioritize workers' safety, and too many workers' compensation claims follow eye and face injuries. Potential hazards include flying particles, caustic liquids, acid, liquid chemicals, molten metal, chemical vapors, and gases and light radiation.

California workers in the construction industry are near the top of the list of most dangerous occupations. When they work on projects in remote locations, the risks are even higher. Compliance with prescribed safety standards is crucial, even though they are covered by workers' compensation insurance. Furthermore, frequent communication with lone workers can ensure prompt medical care in the event of a workplace accident.

California workers in various occupations risk suffering burn injuries, which are classified according to their severity. Although a victim of a serious burn injury might be in shock in the immediate aftermath of the incident, it is essential to recognize the severity of the injury and the need for urgent medical care. Although some workers are concerned about the costs of medical care, they might find comfort in learning that the workers' compensation system of the state will take care of it.

Sometimes, the circumstances under which workplace injuries occur give rise to uncertainty about the rights of injured workers. The California Highway Patrol is investigating a recent accident in which a food truck worker lost his life. It was also reported to the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. Cal/OSHA initially decided to let CHP take the lead. But where does that leave the surviving family members and their rights to workers' compensation death benefits?

Incessant workplace stress has become a recognized cause of employee burnout. Workers across all industries in California and the rest of the country are at risk. According to the World Health Organization, burnout syndrome is a diagnosable occupational disease. However, federal and state safety authorities have not yet established safety standards to prevent burnout, nor does the syndrome feature in the list of occupational illnesses covered by workers' compensation.

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has launched an investigation into the recent death of a city worker in Palo Alto. Reportedly, the 42-year-old worker was one of five city employees who worked on the upgrading of an electrical transformer. He was the only victim of this workplace accident, and a workers' compensation claim will likely be filed.

Health care workers, police officers and big rig operators in California might be interested in the results of a recent study in another state. It involved an analysis of data from a National Health Interview Survey, which was conducted among 15,000 adults between 2010 and 2018. The survey participants submitted self-reports of their sleep patterns and duration. Many workers' compensation claims every year follow workplace injuries caused by sleep-deprived workers.

Over the past few years, October and November have been cruel when it comes to wildfires. Once again, employees rely on their employers to allow them to work indoors whenever possible and to provide respiration protection throughout the fire season. Most California employers realize that they can keep their workers' compensation premiums down by prioritizing workplace safety.

Nurses from the emergency department of a San Francisco hospital reportedly filed a complaint about safety in their work environment with the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health. The nurses claim they have not received safety training related to workplace violence in the past two years. Further complaints involve the chronic state of understaffing and administration negligence, all contributing to circumstances in which they are exposed to violence, which often lead to workers' compensation claims.

Every year from September through December, wildland firefighters in California risk their lives as they work to save the properties and lives of others. One of the lesser-known hazards is Rhabdomyolysis -- also known as rhabdo. It is a condition that damages the heart and kidneys, and it likely results in many workers' compensation claims each year.